Device for operating animated signs



Sept. 8, 1936. F. J. STENGl ER DEVICE FOR OPERATING ANIMATED SIGNS FiledJuly 5, 1955 Patented Sept. 8, I936 entree STATES 2,053,351 H DEVICE FOROPERATING ANIMATED sIGNs Francis J. Stenger, Los Angeles, Calif.,assignor to Charles Brooks, West Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 5, 1935, SerialNo. 29,974

13 Claims.

This invention relates to signs and relates more particularly to amechanism or device for operating animated signs, advertising displays,models "or the like, having active or moving parts to attract theattention of the passer-by. A general object of the invention is toprovide a simple, practical and particularly effective device foroperating animated signs, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the charactermentioned that is so constructed that it may be readily and quicklyaltered or modified to operate animated signs or advertisements ofvarious classes and types and animated signs and advertisements havingvarious numbers of movable parts.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an animated signoperating device of the character mentioned that is particularlysmoothand quit in operation and which requires little-power, making thesign very economical to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sign operating deviceof the character mentioned that is in the form of an especially simple,compact, and self-contained unit that is readily portable andwhichoccupies a minimum amount 'of space, which is an important factorwhen the device is being employed to operate signs displayed in thewindows of stores and'like situations where the space is limited.

Another object of this invention is tov provide a device of thecharacter mentioned that is simple and inexpensive of manufacture inthat it is made up of a minimum number of simple parts that are easilymachined or finished and assembled. The device has only a few simpleparts and there is a minimum of wear in its operation and, therefore,practically'no upkeep cost.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typical form andap-, plication of the invention, throughout which description referenceis made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

,Fig. 1 is a front elevation of. a sign showing the device in connectiontherewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical detailed sectional view of the deviceand sign taken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary detailedsectional viewtakensubstantially as indicatedby line 33 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentarydetailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 5-4 onFig. 3. Fig, 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional viewillustrating'one of'the pivotal mountings, and Fig. 6

is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line E35on Fig. 5.

The animated sign operating device provided by the invention is adaptedto be varied or modified to actuate various classes and types of an- 5imated advertising signs, displays, etc. In this way the signs ordisplays can be altered or changed with very little modification of theactuating device. For instance,- the sign may be displaying anadvertisement for a certain com- 10 pany or concern, and after a periodof time may be changed to have different figures or moving parts, or maybe easily changed to present an advertisement for a different concernwith but very little modification of the operating device. 15

All that is necessary is to relocate the rotatable mountingsfor themoving parts, replace or insert new cams designed to give the movableparts their desired motion, and reconnect the movable 'parts with theirrespective cams, as will be hereinafter described. Further, the signactuating device of the present invention is adapted to beemployed foroperating signs, etc. of diiTerent sizes, types, etc.

The particular animated sign illustrated in the drawing is not to betaken as limiting or restricting invention as it may be variedconsiderably without departing from the spirit of the invention. Theparticular advertisement or sign I3 illustrated in the drawing includesa figure or image H of a person having a movable head l2 and movablearms 83. The advertisement also includes a figure or image of an animall4, having a movable head l5 and a movable tail H5. The movable parts ofthe advertisement or sign may all be mounted in substantially the samemanner and in the manner to be hereinafter described.

The device provided by the present'invention includes, generally, aboard or mounting panel ill for carrying or mounting the display'or signit, rotatable mountings it for mounting the movable parts of the signto, a variable cam drive l9 that may be readily altered or modified whendesired, a, suitable power means it, and means 2| operatively connectingthe drive 59 with the movable parts.-

' The board or panel H for forming or carrying the background,lettering, etc., of the advertisement or sign iii, and for carrying therotatable mountings it for the moving parts, may be considered asforming a part of a sign which the device of the present invention mayoperate or may be considered as an element of the device of theinvention. The panel ll may be of any shape or '55 configuration. In theconstruction illustrated in the drawing the panel is of substantiallyrectangular configuration and may be made of wood for the easyattachment of the mountings I 8. The 5 panel ll projects substantiallyvertically from a base 22 and may be attached thereto by angle bracketsor braces 23. The base 22 projects forward of the panel ii a shortdistance to accommodate advertising that may consist of superimposedparts one in front of the other to give a relief effect, as illustratedin Fig. 2 of the drawing. Sides 24 and a top '25 may be provided aroundthe panel ill to form a frame, and may project forwardly the samedistance from the panel as the base The outer ends of the sides 24, thetop 25 and the base 22 may be finished ofi'with amolding 25. The base 22projects rearwardly from the panel to carry or mount the drive l9 andthe means 20. The sides 24 and the top 25 may also project rearwardly tohouse the operat- .ing mechanism. A removable cover or closure C isprovided on the back of the device and extends from the top to the base22 and from one side 24 to the other. When the closure C is removed 25the operating mechanism is readily accessible for alteration or repair.It may be desirable to have parts of the advertisement or sign projectbeyond the edges of the panel H, in which case the sides 25 and top 25may be omitted, reduced in size or provided with openings to allow theadvertisement parts to extend or move beyond the panel H.

The rotatable mountings id for the several movable parts of theadvertisement or sign It) may be identical. the description of one ofthe mountings l8, which description may apply equally well to theseveral mountings. Each mounting l8 includes a bearing 27. .The bearing27 is provided with a mounting flange 28 for attaching the bearing 21 tothe rear side of the panel ET. The bearing 21 is removably secured tothe panel N by screws 29 passed through openings in the flange 28. Abearing 21 may be located at each point of pivotal connection of themembers or parts of the images or figures H and I4 with the panel 51'. Aclip or fastener in the form of a flat metal plate 30 is secured to themovable part of the sign by spaced lugs 3| formed on the plate. The lugs3| may be integral with the plate 35 and project through slots in themovable part and are then bent over to secure the plate 33 to the part.A stub shaft 32 is rotatably carried by the bearing 27 and projectsforwardly through an opening 33 in the panel El. The shaft 32 isprovided with an en- 5 largement or head 33 on its outer end. The head34 is sweated, soldered, or otherwise fixed to. the plate 33 of thefastening to rigidly connect it thereto.

The cam drive l9 includes a cam shaft 35 60 mounted'for rotation byspaced bearings or brackets 36 and 37. The base 22 may projectrearwardly from the panel ii to carry the brackets 36 and 37 Thebrackets 33 and Bi are provided with mounting flanges 38 which aresecured to the base by screws 39 passed through openings in the flanges38 and screwed into the base. The major portion of the shaft 35 ispreferably polygonal for reasons to be hereinafter set forth. The outer0 ends 43 of the shaft 35 are cylindrical and are received in thebearings or brackets 36 and 31. A series of cams 49 is arranged on thepolygonal portion of the shaft 35. The cams 4|. have polygonal openingsfor cooperating with or re- I 7 5 ceiving the polygonal shaft 35. Thewalls of the Therefore, I will proceed with polygonal openings 42cooperating with the polygonal shaft form driving connections betweenthe shaft 35 and the cams 4|. The several cams 4| of the series areprovided with surfaces S that give their respective movable parts of thesign l0 their desired or proper movement.

In the preferred construction the shaft 35 is proportioned to carry aconsiderable number of cams 4| In the particular constructionillustrated in the drawing the shaft 35 is proportioned so that it maycarry as many as ten cams. In the drawing I have only shown six cams 4|on the shaft 35, as that is all that is required for the on; the portionor portions of the shaft not occupied by the cams 4| and their spacers44. The assembly of the cams 4 spacers 44 and the washers 43 or any partthereof may be easily removed or slid from the shaft 35 for replacementor rearrangement by detaching a. bracket 36 or 3'! from thebase 22 toleave one end of the shaft free andexposed for the removal andrearrangement 'of the cams, spacers and washers.

N The drive l9 includes a countershaft 45 carrying rockers 46 forcooperating with the cams 4|.

The end portions of theshaft 45 aressupported in bosses 41 onthebrackets 36 and 3'l. Thecountershaft 45 is parallel to the shaft 35 andis in substantially the same horizontal plane. The rockers are mountedfor rotation or oscillation on the countershaft 45. The rockers 46 areeach provided with a depending arm 48. The arms 48 are provided withprojections 49 extending upwardly and outwardly toward the shaft 35 tobe substantially radial to the axis of the shaft 35. The outer ends ofthe projections 49 are bifurcated-or yoked to have slots 5| forreceiving the peripheral portions of the cams 4 Rollers R are rotatablymounted in the slots 5| on pins 52 and are adapted to contact orcooperate with the surfaces S of the cams. Springs 53 are connected withthe lower ends of the rocker arms 48 and a cross bar or rod 54 carriedbetween the brackets 35 and 31 to yieldingly urge the rollers R intocooperation with the cam surfaces S.

Q [The power means 20 provided by the invention includes an electricmotor M which may be of relatively low horse power to be economical inoperation. It is also preferable to employ a motor that has a relativelylow R. P. M. rating. The motor is provided with conductors 10 that maybe connected with a convenient source of electrical energy. The motor vMis attached to the bracket 36 to be adjacent one end of the cam shaft35. Theinvention provides a drive or gear transmission; between themotor M and the cam shaft 35. The transmission includes a worm 55 keyedto the outer end of the motor shaft and a worm wheel 56 onthe cam shaft35. The worm wheel 56 has a polygonal opening to cooperate with orreceive the polygonal portion of the shaft 35'. A plate 15 may beprovided on the bracket 36 to enclose the worm 55 and the outer side oftheworm wheel 56 so that the bracket 36 and its plate 15 forms ahousingfor the gearing or transl mission. One end 40 of the cam shaft. 35 maybe or modifications that may appearto those skilled rotatably supportedin an opening I6 in the plate I 75. It is apparent how rotation of themotor M is transmitted to the cams 4| and how the cams 4| operate therockers 46.

. The means 2| for operatively connecting the drive l9 with the movableparts l2, |3, I5 and |6 of the sign proper l6 includes arms 58 on the 1rockers 46. The arms 58 project at substantially right angles to thearms 48 and project forwardly to be in substantially the same horizontalplane as the shafts 35 and 45. The arms 58 of the rockers 46 are eachprovided with a series of holes 59 spaced different distances from theaxis of the shaft 55. Levers 66 are provided on the ends of the stubshafts 32 and are locked against rotation relative thereto by set screws6 A series of holes 62 may be provided in each of the levers 66.Suitable linkage connects the levers 66 with the arms 560i" the rockers46 and includes link members 64. It is believed that it is clear how theleverage of the linkage and the amount of movement of the linkagemembers 64 may be varied. The

ends of the link members 64 may have angular or bent parts inserted inthe holes of the arms 58 and the levers 60. These end parts of the linkmembers 64 may be inserted in any of the spaced holes in the arms 58 orthe levers 60 to obtain the desired relative movement of the movableparts of the sign It. The linkage may be varied considerably withoutdeparting from thespirit of the invention, and its character dependsupon the locations of the rotatable mountings I8 relative to theactuating arms 58. In most instances all that is required is a singlelink member 64 to constitute a connection between a rocker arm 58 andits related lever 60, while in some cases where the rotatable mountingI8 is in a remote place it may be necessary to provide a bell crank 65and two connecting link members 64 such as shown for operating themovable part I6.

It is believed that the operating of the sign operating device providedby the present invention will be readily understood from the foregoingdetailed description. The device is driven or actuated by the simplepower means 2|] consisting of an inexpensive electric motor 'M that maybe connected in a convenient outlet of a supply line. Rotation of themotor M is transmitted through the worm 55 and worm wheel 56 to the camshaft 35 to cause rotation of the series of cams 4|. The cams are shapedto have active surfaces S of special or given contours, depending uponthe action or movement to be given the movable parts of theadvertisement or sign. Rotation of the cams 4| causes movement of therockers 46 through the cooperation of the rollers R on the rocker arms48 with the surfaces S of the cams 4|. This movement of the rockers 46is transmitted to the movable parts of the advertisement or sign throughthe link member 64 connecting the arms 58 of the rockers 46 with theirrespective levers 66 fixed on the shafts 32 that carry the movableparts. As described above, the cams 4| may be exchanged, replaced ormodified in shape and the linkage suitably modified to adapt the deviceto operate animated signs of various characters and to adapt the deviceto changes in the particular sign in which it is employed. Thus thedevice has a wide range of use and is readily adaptable for use invarious situations.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not Wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations in theart or fall within the scope of the following claims: I

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A device for operating ananimated sign having a movable part including, a power means,

-a link operatively connected with the movable sign part, and a camdrive between the power means and the link including a shaft driven bythe power means, a cam on the shaft for operating thelink, and meansretaining the cam on the shaft for ready removal whereby said cam 'entconfiguration to change the motion of the 'movable sign parts.

3. A device for operating an animated sign having movable partsincluding a power means, operating members operatively connected withthe sign parts, a shaft driven by the power means, removable cams on theshaft for actuating the operating members, and a bracket supporting oneend of the shaft and removable therefrom 'to permit replacement of saidcams by cams operable to impart different movements to said sign parts.

4. A device for operating an animated sign having movable partsincluding a power means,

operating members operatively connected with the sign parts, a shaft ofpolygonal cross section driven by the power means, a plurality of camshaving polygonal openings receiving the shaft to turn therewith for thepurpose of actuating the operating members, and means removablyretaining the cams on the shaft whereby the cams may be easily removedfor replacement by cams of. different configuration to impart differentmovement to the said sign parts.

5. A device for operating an animated sign having movable partsincluding a power means, operating members operatively connected withthe sign parts, a shaft of polygonal cross section driven by the powermeans, a plurality of cams having polygonal openings receiving the shaftto turn therewith for the purpose of actuating the operating members,and a bearing supporting one end of the shaft and removable to permitremoval of the cams for replacement by cams of different shape.

6. A device for operating an animated sign having movable partsincluding, operating members to be .operatively connected with the saidmovable parts, an electric motor, a cam shaft, a speed reducing drivebetween the motor and shaft, a plurality of cams on the shaft, a rockershaft, and rockers on the rocker shaft actuated by the cams to operatethe said members.

'7. A device for operating an animated sign having movable partsincluding, operating members to be operatively connected with the saidmovable parts, an electric motor, a cam shaft, a speed reducing drivebetween the motor and shaft, a plurality of cams on the shaft, rockersoperatively connected with said members, and anti-friction members onthe rockers engaged by the cams whereby the cams actuate the rockers andsaid operating members.

8. A device for operating an animated sign having movable partsincluding, operating members to be operatively'connected with thesaidmovable parts, a motor, a cam shaft, a speed reducing drive between themotor and shaft,'a plurality of cams on the shaft, rockers operativelyconnected with said members, anti-friction rollers on the rockersengageable by the cams to provide for the movement of the operatingmembers and sign parts, and springs acting on the rockers to hold therollers in contact with the cams.

9. A device for operating an animated display having a plurality ofmovable parts including members operatively connected with the signparts, a power means, a cam shaft, a worm drive between the power meansand shaft, a plurality of spaced cams removably arranged on the shaft.to turn therewith, a rocker shaft substantially parallel with the camshaft, a plurality of rockers independently turnable on the rocker shaftand engageable by the cams for pivoting thereby, spring means urging therockers into active cooperation with the cams, operative connectionsbetween the rockers and said members and a bearing supporting an end ofthe shaft and removable to permit replacement of said cams by cams ofdifferent shapes for cooperating with said rockers.

10. In combination, an animated display including aplurality of movableparts, and an actuating means including operating members connected withsaid parts, a power means, a cam shaft driven by the power means, camson the shaft, a rocker shaft'substantially parallel with the cam shaft,and rockers on the rocker shaft each having an arm engageable bya cam,and

an arm operatively connected with one of said members.

11. In combination, an animated display including a plurality of,movable parts, and an actuating means including operating membersconnected. with said parts, a power means, a cam shaft driven by-thepower means, exchangeable cams on the shaft, rockers operated by thecams, and adjustable connections between the rockers and the operatingmembers.

12. Mechanism for operating an animated sign having a plurality ofmovable parts comprising, a camshaft, means for rotating the cam shaft,a rocker shaft substantially parallel with the cam shaft, a plurality ofcams arranged on the cam shaft for rotation therewith and for removaltherefrom, rockers arranged on the rocker shaft for'removal therefromand for individual engagement by a cam, a member retaining the cams androckers on their respective shafts removable" to permit replacement ofthe cams' and rockers, and operative connections between the rockers andsaid parts. V

l3. Mechanism for operating an animated sign having a plurality ofmovable parts comprising,

rockers and said parts.

FRANCIS J. STENGER.

